Comments for MOLLUS Congress / Gettysburg 10-28-17

                                                       

Commander Simmons, fellow members of MOLLUS, members of DOLLUS, and Guest.  


I bring the greetings of the more than 6000 brothers of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, who along with myself hope you are having a productive Congress.  While MOLLUS is not part of the Allied Orders associated with the Grand Army of the Republic, many of the brothers of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War can also be found among your ranks.   After all we have kindred missions to preserve the history of the men who fought a war to preserve the Union and at the same time free a people from the tyranny of slavery.



In a few weeks, I and perhaps many of you will return to Gettysburg and commemorate the 154^th anniversary of President Lincoln’s short comments during the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery; in which those who gave the last full measure of devotion lie at rest.  In that now famous speech President Lincoln said that the fields and streets of Gettysburg could not be consecrated by the words of man; for it had already been made hallowed by the blood of the brave men who have struggled here.  Regarding that struggle, I feel a connection with the words of Lincoln.  You see my Great Great Grandfather Richard Martin Lown, fought here atop Culp’s Hill with the 150^th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.



Gettysburg was my Great Great Grandfather’s first battle; it is where he saw the Elephant and it is where he first saw men of his unit fight and die.  Having learned of his service and the service of his brothers in arms through the records and diaries they let behind, I believe he and his comrades would agree that the sacrifices made were great and that they would treasure the reverent words of Mr. Lincoln’s speech. 



I hope that each man in this room today would feel likewise; for the men of whom Mr. Lincoln spoke deserve our acts of remembrance, not only one day a year, but every day of the year.  Yet sadly, my fellow companions and brothers, the words of Lincoln, though etched deeply in the history of our country, may not be permanent.  They must be inculcated to each succeeding generation; lest they be lost in the swirling storm of events which shape our modern world.  Plainly stated the education of both our youth and our less historically informed fellow citizens must be one of our most pressing goals.  We must teach them to value the past and particularly the lessons of the American Civil War.   This task falls heavily on the shoulders of both MOLLUS and the SUVCW and we must not shirk from the responsibility.



Many forces are at work in America today with the intention of undermining history and to make the past seem less relevant.  Such a realignment of thinking, bathed in the waters of politics and clothed in the rich fabric of presentism may jeopardize our ability to fulfill our promise to perpetuate and keep green the memory of our honored ancestors in an uncertain future devoid of traditional norms.



In the coming years MOLLUS, the SUVCW, and all other Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic in cooperation with other Veteran and Heritage groups must out of necessity work together if we are to be successful in promoting history education.  We will need to become more visible in our communities.  We will need to utilize media to get out our message and we must formulate cooperative long-term strategies for achieving our goals.



Companions and Brothers, I look forward to working with all my Brothers and Sisters who share my passion and my belief that we can overcome the challenges and ensure our ancestors are never forgotten.



Again, I thank you for the invitation to speak and for you kind and thoughtful attention.